History Creator / RiverPhoenix

He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut tragically short when he died of drug overdose at 23. In 2020, Joaquin named his newborn son "River" in homage to his brother.

* BookEnds: His first and last completed movies, ''Explorers'' and ''The Thing Called love'' were both from {{Creator/Paramount Pictures}}.

* BookEnds: His first and last completed movies, ''Explorers'' and ''The Thing Called love'' were both from {{Creator/Paramount}} Pictures.

* BookEnds: His first and last completed movies, ''Explorers'' and ''The thing called love'' were both from {{Creator/Paramount}} Pictures.

River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993), born River Jude Bottom, was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix.

* NinetiesHair: He famously had long hair in the early 1990s, as shown on the page image.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was planning to work on ''Film/InterviewWithTheVampire'' two weeks after his death.

Some of his movies include:

!!River Phoenix and his works provide examples of:
* AwesomeMcCoolName
* AbusiveParents: While not actively malicious, his upbringing was ''harsh''. He and his sister often performed on the street in order to make some cash as their family was dirt poor. There was also a period where his parents joined the Children of God cult and he and his siblings were sent to pick fruit in fields or work as missionaries.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was planning to work on ''Interview with the Vampire'' two weeks after his death.

River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993), born River Jude Bottom, was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut tragically short when he died of drug overdose at 23.

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* ''Film/Explorers'' (1985)

* DownerEnding: Phoenix's tragic death from a drug overdose at the age of 23 in 1993.

River Phoenix (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993), born River Jude Bottom, was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

* AwesomeMcCoolname

'''River Phoenix''' (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993), born '''River Jude Bottom''', was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

* NinetiesHair: He famously had long hair in the early 1990s, as shown on the page image.

'''River Phoenix''' (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

* DownerEnding: Phoenix's tragic death in 1993 at the age of 23.

!!Tropes related to this actor's work:

* TheCastShowoff: Inovked when he sang (or played guitar).

'''River Phoenix''' (August 23, 1970 -- October 31, 1993) was an American musician, activist and actor, and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

* DoItYourselfThemeTune : Phoenix wrote and recorded "Heart to Get" for ''Film/ANightInTheLifeOfJimmyReardon'' but it was only added on the Director's cut, years later. His band Aleka's Attic also appeared on the soundtrack for ''Film/MyOwnPrivateIdaho''.

'''River Phoenix''' (August 23, 1970 -- October 31, 1993) was an American actor and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

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!!Tropes:
* BreakTheCutie: Many of his roles, and arguably also in real life.
* TheCastShowoff: When he sang (or played guitar).
* CelebrityIsOverrated
* DeadArtistsAreBetter
* DyeingForYourArt
* TheEighties / TheNineties
* FormerChildStar
* {{Hypocrite}}: By his own admission for being a strict Vegan and heavy smoker.
* [[SheIsAllGrownUp He Is All Grown Up]]: In ''The Thing Called Love''.
* JadeColoredGlasses: Seemingly wore these often in his later years.
* ShrinkingViolet: A big part of his drug problem was his deep discomfort at being constantly under supervision by the press and having to deal with the pressures of fame.
* WiseBeyondTheirYears

River Phoenix (1970-1993) was an American actor and the older brother of Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. He became famous as a teen actor, but his promising career was cut short by his death from drug overdose at the age of 23.

* ''Film/StandByMe''
* ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast''
* ''Film/LittleNikita''
* ''Film/RunningOnEmpty''
* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade''
* ''Film/ILoveYouToDeath''
* ''Film/{{Dogfight}}''
* ''Film/MyOwnPrivateIdaho''
* ''Film/{{Sneakers}}''
* ''Film/TheThingCalledLove''